with leader, led 3rd, headed before 2 out, lost 2nd and no extra flat
chased leaders, went 2nd after 4 out, led before 2 out, drew clear from last, comfortably
led until 3rd, chased leader until after 4 out, outpaced after next, hung left and rallied before not fluent last, went 2nd flat, no impression on winner
chased leaders, not fluent 1st or 2nd, not fluent and lost place 4 out, soon ridden, not fluent 3 out, weakened before 2 out
Champagne City seeks a hat-trick of course and distance victories and shouldn’t be far away again. Blue Ribbon got off the mark at the first time of asking for Richard Newland at Worcester and will make a bold bid to defy his penalty but THEBANNERKINGREBEL might just enjoy the switch back to hurdles. The top weight is 3-7 over the smaller obstacles and has dropped to a very fair mark. Fix Sun has been lightly raced but faces no easy task on his first run since November.
Thebannerkingrebel (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Held up on inside, not fluent 2nd, closed 5th, hit next, soon weakened, behind 8th, pulled up after, at Kelso 2m 1f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Fix Sun (FR) 25-1 (11-5) Midfield, not fluent 3rd, lost ground 4 out and ridden, well beaten 2 out, no extra, 7th of 14, dist behind War Lord (11-0) at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Champagne City 11-4 (11-13) Made all, ridden and held on well from 2 out, stayed on, won at Warwick 2m hcp (4) sft in May beating Dave And Bernie (11-10) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Blue Ribbon 7-2 (10-13) Chased leader, led 3 out, drew clear from last, easily, won at Worcester 2m hcp (4) gd in May beating Sayar (12-1) by 9l, 8 ran.